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Chapter 66
Word's counted --- 1500
Enjoy ~
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"So, what exactly am I supposed to be doing here?" Aki asked, looking around at the stacks of paper and the people organizing them.
"Nothing too intense," Sengoku replied, adjusting his glasses. "We just need to sort the exam papers and notices for the upcoming exams. You can help organize the stacks or pass some notices around. The goal is to get everything ready by the end of today so we can put them up on the bulletin boards."
Aki nodded, picking up a stack of papers and flipping through them curiously. "So... this is all for exams, huh?"
Kyouko chuckled as she passed by. "You sound surprised, Shijo-kun. Didn't you notice all the extra work teachers have been doing?"
Aki scratched his head. "I guess I hadn't paid much attention. Usually, I'm focused on more 'important' things—," he added, grinning.
Shirogane adjusting his papers spoke. "Just make sure you're not 'focusing' on anything that'll get you in uncomfortable."
"I'll do my best," Aki said with a smile. He grabbed a stack of notices, neatly clipped and labeled, and began placing them in the assigned piles.
Yumiko approached Aki, handing him a smaller stack of notices. "Here, take these and post them on the main bulletin board outside. And thank you for helping us even though you're not in the council—we were just in need an extra hand today."
"Is fine, I don't mind helping, it's for my sempai after all." Aki replied, taking the stack from her. "So, just to clarify, all of this goes public tomorrow?"
"Exactly," Yumiko nodded smiling to aki remarks. "Your homeroom teacher will make an announcement tomorrow morning, and we'll be putting the official notices up after class."
Aki started towards the door when Sengoku stopped him. "Hold on. Kyouko, Shirogane you should also go with Shijo-kun — after putting the notice go to your classes - remember that these exams also included you all. So you should probably attend your teacher lecture's."
Kyouko sighed, a faint smile tugging at her lips. " Um, we get it, sis. But it's not like studying is the only thing that makes us responsible students, right?"
Sengoku shrugged. "Fair point. But leave the exam prep work to us seniors. We've got this covered, and you three have your own priorities."
Aki glanced down at the papers, feeling oddly involved in the whole process. "I don't mind helping out again if you need it. Just let me know."
"Will do," Sengoku said, nodding in appreciation.
As they started out the door, Kyouko nudged Aki's arm. "Well, we better make it to class before Sengoku reconsiders and gives us more work."
Aki laughed as they headed down the hall together with kyouko and shirogane.
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"Finally, class is over!" Aki stretched his arms wide, feeling a sense of freedom wash over him. After the long day, he slipped on his shoes and turned to head home, already picturing the comfort of relaxing after a busy school day. Just as he stepped out, a familiar voice called out.
"Shijo-kun!"
He stopped in his tracks and turned around, recognizing the voice immediately. "Hm?" Aki glanced back, slightly surprised to see Kamiya approaching him. "Ah, Kamiya-san! Didn't you say you had club activities after class?" he asked, genuinely curious about why she was still around.
Kamiya laughed awkwardly, a small flicker of shyness flashing across her face as she hesitated a moment. "Yes, I'll be heading there soon. I just wanted to see if you were around and remind you, in case you forgot." Internally, she sighed, thinking, 'I can't exactly say I came to check if you were hanging out with any other girls, can I?'
Just as she was gathering herself to say more, another familiar voice joined the conversation. "Don't worry, Shijo-kun. Kamiya-san and I will be going together," Shikimori said, walking up with her usual calm and confident expression. Her eyes met Aki's, and a small smile spread across her face.
"Oh, Shikimori-san too!" Aki exclaimed, looking between the two girls, feeling unexpectedly flustered but hiding it with a grin. "Then I'll be counting on you to keep Kamiya-san company!" His warm, casual tone seemed to soften the air, and even Shikimori, usually composed, felt a faint blush warming her cheeks at his friendly cheerfulness.
Kamiya huffed lightly, putting on a playful pout as she looked at Aki. "Oh, I see how it is… So, in your eyes, I'm just someone who can't be trusted to take care of myself, huh?" she teased, though there was a glint of genuine curiosity in her eyes.
Aki chuckled, giving her a mischievous grin as he stepped a little closer, closing the distance with a playful look that made Kamiya's heart skip. "No, no, it's nothing like that," he said, voice playful yet warm. "I'm just a little worried… that without someone like Shikimori-san to look out for you, you'd be lonely."
He flashed a quick smile and, before Kamiya could find the words to reply, took off in a light jog down the hall. He waved over his shoulder, calling out, "See you later!" He left with that teasing grin, his footsteps echoing down the hall as he headed toward the exit.
"Honestly… puff," Kamiya muttered, watching him disappear around the corner. She couldn't help but blow a strand of hair from her face in playful frustration. As much as she tried to stay unaffected by his teasing, she felt her face growing warm with a smile she couldn't hide.
Next to her, Shikimori laughed, her usually composed face brightening. "You shouldn't laugh at his jokes, or he'll just get bolder next time," Kamiya sighed, feeling the mix of embarrassment and amusement.
Shikimori chuckled, shaking her head as they started walking down the hall. "True, but isn't that part of his charm?" she murmured under her breath, smiling thoughtfully.
"Did you just say something?" Kamiya glanced at her, not quite catching Shikimori's words.
"Nothing, just talking to myself. Let's head back to the club." Both girls exchanged a knowing look as they started down the hallway.
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Taking out his phone to check the time, Aki was about to head home when he noticed Runa standing near the entrance gate with a group of her friends.
"Hm, I was just thinking about her earlier," he thought with a small smirk. "Her timing is spot-on." He walked over, stopping by her group with his casual grin. "Runa, do you have any plans for after school?" Aki asked, glancing from her to her friends.
"Um, nothing super important," she replied, looking at him curiously. "Why, do you need me for something?"
"If you're free, I'll drop you home," he offered, motioning for her to come along. "Let's go."
"Ah, well…" Runa hesitated, glancing back at her friends. Sure, heading out with them was her original plan, but she didn't want to disappoint Aki. After all, since they'd started going out, she thought of him as her boyfriend, even if it wasn't official.
Her friend with dyed hair, light-colored and styled in a way that looked even lighter than Runa's, caught on quickly. She had a necklace resting on her chest, piercings in her ears, pink nails, and a fashion style that screamed "gal." Still, she had sharp eyes and gave off a bit of a tough vibe. "It's fine, we were just heading home too," she said with a light shrug. "You can go."
"If you say so, Nikoru-chan." Runa nodded, receiving her friend's approval before happily hopping onto Aki's back.
"Now you're getting spoiled, huh?" Aki teased, grinning over his shoulder as she settled onto his back. After their date, Runa had seemed even more attached to him, a change that hadn't escaped his notice.
Runa giggled, lightly holding onto him. "Maybe, but only because you make it easy."
"Um that.... "Aki hesitated for a moment, wanting to thank her friend but feeling it might be strange to call her by her full name out of the blue.
"Uh... thanks for letting me borrow Runa for a bit," he said, scratching his head awkwardly, before she waved it off.
The girl gave him a long glance, her tough-yet-friendly look softening just a bit. "Nikoru Yamana… but for now you can just call me Yamana," she said with a casual nod.
Aki nodded back. "Alright then, Yamana san" he said with a slight smile. "We'll be heading out first."
As he started walking away with Runa on his back, he called over his shoulder, "let go behind the school areas first!" Runa gave a small nod in response, not complaining even though she was curious.
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Lokism would be fun right ?
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